Newton Stewart (Potentially Vulnerable Area 14/12)

Home , Minnigaff, Newton Stewart

Local Plan District Local authority Main catchment Solway Dumfries and Galloway River Cree Council

Summary of flooding impacts Summary of flooding impacts At risk of flooding

• 210 residential properties

• 70 non-residential properties • £540,000 Annual Average Damages

(damages by flood source

shown left)

Summary of objectives to manage flooding

Objectives have been set by SEPA and agreed with flood risk management authorities. These are the aims for managing local flood risk. The objectives have been grouped in three main ways: by reducing risk, avoiding increasing risk or accepting risk by maintaining current levels of management. Objectives

Many organisations, such as Scottish Water and energy companies, actively maintain

and manage their own assets including their risk from flooding. Where known, these

actions are described here. Scottish Natural Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland work with site owners to manage flooding where appropriate at designated environmental and/or cultural heritage sites. These actions are not detailed further in the Flood Risk Management Strategies.

Summary of actions to manage flooding The actions below have been selected to manage flood risk.

Flood Natural flood New flood Community Property level Site protection protection management warning flood action protection plans scheme/works works groups scheme Actions

Flood Natural flood Maintain flood Awareness Surface water Emergency protection management warning raising plan/study plans/response study study

Maintain flood Strategic Flood Planning Self help Maintenance protection mapping and forecasting policies scheme modelling

Solway Local Plan District Section 2 144 Newton Stewart (Potentially Vulnerable Area 14/12)

Local Plan District Local authority Main catchment Dumfries and Galloway Solway River Cree Council

Background

This Potentially Vulnerable Area is There are approximately 210 residential located to the west of the Solway Local properties and 70 non-residential Plan District. It incorporates the properties at risk of flooding. The settlements of Newton Stewart, Annual Average Damages are Minnigaff and Auchinleck (shown approximately £540,000. below). It is approximately 50km2.

Figure 1: Annual Average Damages by flood source

Summary of flooding impacts

The River Cree originates in the north of Solway Local Plan District and flows south through the centre of Newton Stewart; this is the main source of risk in the area. The Penkiln Burn originates in the north and flows south west towards Minnigaff where it joins the River Cree. The upper reaches of Penkiln Burn are within Kirroughtree Forest above Auchinleck.

The risk of flooding to people and property, as well as to community facilities, utilities, the transport network, designated sites and agricultural land is summarised in Table 1. Most of the properties at risk of flooding lie within Newton Stewart and Minnigaff.

Within this Potentially Vulnerable Area it is estimated that climate change will increase the number of residential properties at risk of flooding from approximately 210 to 290 and the number of non-residential properties from approximately 70 to 90.

The damages associated with floods of different likelihood are shown in Figure 2. Residential properties affected by river flooding experience the highest economic impact at approximately 75% of the damages. Non-residential properties also contribute a notable portion of the damages.

145 Section 2 Solway Local Plan District The location of the impacts of flooding is shown in Figure 3.

1 in 10 1 in 200 1 in 1000 High likelihood Medium likelihood Low likelihood Residential properties (total 100 210 240 1,800) Non-residential properties (total 20 70 90 220) People 200 450 540 <10 Includes: <10 Includes: Community <10 Educational educational educational facilities buildings buildings and buildings and emergency services emergency services Utilities assets <10 <10 <10 Transport links - 0.2 (of which <0.1 is 0.7 (of which <0.1 is 1.0 (of which <0.1 is roads (km) A road) A road) A road) Environmental designated areas <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 (km2) Designated cultural heritage 2 2 3 sites Agricultural land 2 0.1 0.2 0.9 (km )

Table 1: Summary of flood impacts1

Figure 2: Damages by flood likelihood

1 Some receptors are counted more than once if flooded from multiple sources

Solway Local Plan District Section 2 146

Figure 3: Impacts of flooding

147 Section 2 Solway Local Plan District History of flooding

All recorded flooding to properties has occurred in the vicinity of Newton Stewart and Minnigaff. Flooding was recorded on 30 December 2013 and on 19 November 2012 the highest observed water level in the River Cree occurred when it is thought that around 50 properties were affected. The return period has been identified as between 1 in 50 to 1 in 85 years. Two further notable floods in Newton Stewart occurred in October 1988 and August 1960. The former impacted agricultural land, roads and a community facility, while agricultural properties were washed away along with a road bridge in the 1960 flood.

The most recent reported surface water flood was in 2002, which resulted in flooding of the A714 north and B7079 Kirroughtree. Floods in 1950 and 1878 resulted in businesses, residential properties and roads being flooded.

There has been one coastal flood recorded, which occurred in 1854 and resulted in the flooding of agricultural land.

Solway Local Plan District Section 2 148 Objectives to manage flooding in Potentially Vulnerable Area 14/12

Objectives provide a common goal and shared ambition for managing floods. These objectives have been set by SEPA and agreed with flood risk management authorities following consultation. They were identified through an assessment of the underlying evidence of the causes and impacts of flooding. Target areas have been set to focus actions; they do not necessarily correspond to areas at risk in SEPA’s flood map. The objectives below have been set for Newton Stewart Potentially Vulnerable Area.

Reduce the risk of river flooding to properties in Newton Stewart Indicators: Target area: • 200 residential properties • 70 non-residential properties • £520,000 Annual Average Damages

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Target area Objective ID Indicators within PVA Applies across Avoid an overall increase in flood risk 14033 • 210 residential Solway Local properties Plan District • £540,000 Annual Average Damages Applies across Reduce overall flood risk 14040 • 210 residential Solway Local properties Plan District • £540,000 Annual Average Damages Applies across Organisations such as Scottish Water, Solway Local energy companies and Historic Plan District Environment Scotland actively maintain and manage their own assets, including the risk of flooding. These actions are not detailed further in the Flood Risk Management Strategies.

149 Section 2 Solway Local Plan District Actions to manage flooding in Potentially Vulnerable Area 14/12

Actions describe where and how flood risk will be managed. These actions have been set by SEPA and agreed with flood risk management authorities following consultation. Selection of actions to deliver the agreed objectives was based on a detailed assessment and comparison of economic, social and environmental criteria. The actions shaded and then described below have been selected as the most appropriate for Newton Stewart Potentially Vulnerable Area.

Selected actions

Flood Natural flood New flood Community Property level Site protection protection management warning flood action protection plans scheme/works works groups scheme

Flood Natural flood Maintain flood Awareness Surface water Emergency protection management warning raising plan/study plans/response study study

Maintain flood Strategic Flood Planning Self help Maintenance protection mapping and forecasting policies scheme modelling

Action (ID): FLOOD PROTECTION SCHEME/WORKS (140160006)

Objective (ID): Reduce the risk of river flooding to properties in Newton Stewart (14016)

Delivery lead: Dumfries and Galloway Council

National: Within local authority: Priority: 25 of 42 4 of 4 Status: Under development Indicative delivery: 2016-2021

Description: It is recommended that the council progress work on the proposed flood protection scheme in Newton Stewart. The Newton Stewart Flood Study identified potential works, including construction of direct defences along the River Cree and Penkiln Burn. The study is being further refined to consider actions that increase the level of protection offered. This includes raising of a footbridge over the River Cree in combination with increased direct defences. Other actions may also be considered to select the most sustainable combination of actions.

Potential impacts

Economic: The proposed scheme may benefit 62 residential properties and 63 non-residential properties at risk of flooding in this location, damages avoided are estimated to be £12 million. The economic impact of natural flood management actions is difficult to define. However, these actions can reduce flood risk for high likelihood events. In this location, it has been estimated that 25 residential and non-residential properties could potentially benefit from natural flood management actions. The flood protection scheme has an estimated benefit cost ratio of 1.6.

Solway Local Plan District Section 2 150 Social: A reduction in flood risk would have a positive benefit to the health and wellbeing of the community and socially vulnerable people located within the flood protection scheme area. In addition there are two utilities which have been identified as potentially benefitting from this action. Natural flood management actions can restore and enhance natural environments and create opportunities for recreation and tourism. There may be changes in visual amenity and land use as a result of this action.

Environmental: Flood protection works can have both positive and negative impacts on the ecological quality of the environment depending on how they are designed. There is potential for impacts on habitats and changes to channel morphology. Opportunities to mitigate any environmental impacts should be identified as part of the study through the design and timing of works.

Action (ID): NEW FLOOD WARNING (140400010)

Objective (ID): Reduce overall flood risk (14040)

Delivery lead: SEPA

Status: Ongoing Indicative delivery: 2016-2021

Description: Continue with the development and implementation of the Newton Stewart flood warning area on the River Cree.

Action (ID): STRATEGIC MAPPING AND MODELLING (140400019)

Objective (ID): Reduce overall flood risk (14040)

Delivery lead: Scottish Water

Status: Not started Indicative delivery: 2016-2021

Scottish Water will carry out an assessment of flood risk within the Description: highest risk sewer catchments to improve knowledge and understanding of surface water flood risk.

151 Section 2 Solway Local Plan District Action (ID): FLOOD FORECASTING (140400009)

Objective (ID): Reduce overall flood risk (14040)

Delivery lead: SEPA